Toplift-attaching mechanism



June 11, 1929.

F. L. MACKENZIE 1,716,591 7 TOPLIFT ATTACHING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1926 June 11, 1929a MACKENZIE 1,716,591

TOPLIFT ATTACHING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1], i929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. MACKENZIE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TOPLIFT-ATTACHING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 25, 1926. Serial No. 118,480.

This invention relates to fastening-inserting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine arranged for attaching toplifts to heels.

It has heretofore been customary to attach toplifts to wood heels by meansof fastening-inserting machines arranged to drive in succession a series of fastenings spaced from the periphery of the top lift attached. In order to provide for the trimming of the toplifts in alinement with the surfaces of the wood heels, the toplifts are ordinarily cut larger than the attaching surfaces of the heels to which they are to be applied, but in order to avoid waste it is desirable that the difference in size of a toplift and the attaching surface of the wood heel to which it is to be attached be no more than is reasonably necessary. As the toplifts heretofore have been located manually on the attaching surfaces of the heels, and so held by the operative while the first fastening, at least, was inserted, it has resulted, particularly with unskilled help, that toplifts have not infrequently been attached in such a manner that they did not project sufficiently beyond the attaching face of the heels, throughout parts of their peripheries, to permit the necessary trimming. This condition is aggravateo, in the case, for example, of Louis heels, by the reverse curvature of such heels which results in the top lifts having larger tread surfaces than the attaching surfaces of the heels. Some wood heel manufacturers, to avoid this difficulty, provide toplifts substantially larger than is necessary if the lifts are properly positioned, but this, of course, is wasteful, increases operating expenses, and is correspondingly undesirable.

Itis, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved fasteninginserting machine organization having means for locating a toplift and a heel in the relative position in which they should be secured together and means for inserting a fastening into the toplift and heel to secure them together in that relation. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the illustrated machine is provided with rigidly but adjustably connected gage members arranged to engage respectively a toplift and an unattached heel to locate the toplift and the heel in the relarelative position in which they are located by the gage member, provided with an internally threaded member adgustably carrying a correspondingly externally threaded, work- 'carrying member, a spring tending to move the work-carrying member toward the fastoning-inserting instrumentalities of the machine, and means for holding the threaded members away from the fastening inserting instrumentalities against the compression of the spring for the supplying and removal of work pieces.

Other features of construction and novel combinations of parts will be described in the detailed specification and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the means for operating the work support;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing in detail the work gages; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the heel gage.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed in connection with a fastening-inserting mechanism of the type shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 910,147, granted January 19, 1909, upon an application filed in the name of F. H. Perry.

Referring to Figs. 1, and 2 of the drawings, the illustrated machine comprises a frame 10 supporting a shaft 12. At one end of the shaft 12 is a power pulley 14: which oper ates to rotate the shaft by means of a Horton clutch 16, the clutch being controlled at the will of the operator by arod 18 connected to a treadle' (not shown). The shaft 152 operates mechanism including a feed roll 19 for feeding wire 20 from a reel 21 to fasteningforming mechanism (not shown in detail), and a cam 22 keyed to the shaft operates to lift and trip a driver bar 2d carrying a driver 25 which drives a fastening through a threat block or nozzle 26 into a workpiece positioned beneath the nozzle. lhe structure so far recited is fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent, which may be referred to for a more detailed description of the operating parts of the machine.

The mechanism for positioning the work relatively to the nozzle comprises a toplift gage 28 l and l) slid-ably mounted in a casting 30 positioned. adjacent to the nozzle 26. One end of the gage 28 is provided with arms 32 forming a \i'shaped portion for contacting with the curved back of a toplift and serving to position the latter with its central portion approximately in alinement with the nozzle 26. For adjusting the gage 28 longitudinally to accommodate different sizes of toplifts, the gage is provided with a rack 34 meshin with a pinion 86 carried by a. shaft 37 having a bearing in the casting 30 and rotatable by means of a lever 36. A plate 40 secured to the casting 30 and having a series of holes d2, provided for co-operating with a pin it at one end of the lever 38, to lock the gage 28 in any one of several adjusted positions. lly this arrangement the gage can be readily adjusted to locate toplifts of different sizes in line with the nozzle.

Secured to the under side of the gage 28, by means of a wing nut 46 and bolt 48, is a heel gage 50 arranged normally for movement with the gage 28. For adjusting the gages relatively to each other, the heel gage 50 is provided with an eccentric 52 having a pin 5% extending into a slot 56 of gage 28 l). The eccentric held against vertical movement by a pin 58 and is operated by means of a knurled handle 60. ll hen it is daired to adjust the gages relatively to each other, the wing nut. l6 is loosened and the handle 60 is turned, thus operating the eccentric to slide the gage 5O longitudinally of the gage 28. The end of gage 5O co1npr a if-shaped portion 62 similar to that of 12 e 28 but pivotally mounted at- 6 l (Fig.

5) in such manner that the end of the is capable of slight movement in a sub. lly vertical direction, for reasons which will now be described.

In presenting the work to the nozzle of the fastening-inserting mechanism, a toplift shown at 66 (Figs. 1 and l) is positioned upon a heel shown at 68, with the curved edges of the lift parallel tobut extending considerably beyond the curved edges of the back of the heel. T he operator presents the work to the nozzle and gages by pressing the toplift up against the nozzle 26 and forcing backboth the lift and the heel until the lift engages the toplift gage and the back of the heel engages the heel gage, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and i. The pivotal mounting of the outer end portion 62 of heel gage 50 prevents the gage from injuring the back of the heel as the heel is forced upward against the nozzle 26 as it might if the heel gage were rigid throughout its entire length. In the operation of the construction shown, if the heel is forced back against gage 5O asit is forced upwardly against the nozzle, the end portion 62 of the gage 50 will rise with the heel, so that any tendency to scrape the heel is eliminated. The angular movement of the end portion of the gage in such cases is so slight that it causes no appreciable change in the relative positioning of the toplift and heel. The gages 32 and 62 are normally adjusted so that the edge of the toplift positioned by the 32 extends beyond the edge of the heel positioned by the gage 62, as shown in Fig. 4.

Mechanism is provided for supporting the heel and toplift in position against the nozzle 26 during the fastening-inserting operation. This mechanism, best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a knob '50 mounted upon a support 7 2 arranged for vertical sliding movement in a bracket 73 carried by the frame 10. The support 72 comprises a shaft. provided with. screw threads 7% engaging a bushing 76 slidably mounted in a lug 78 carried by bracket 73. A spring 80 bears at its lower end upon bracket 73 and acts upon the lower end of bushing 76 in such a manner as to tend to force the bushing and the work support upwardly into position to hold the work against the nozzle. For depressing the work support at the proper time in order to release the work af er the insertion of a fastening, a lever is provided, pivoted to bracket73 at 84 and havat one end a pin 86 engaging the walls f a groove 88 in the bushing 7 6. Through an opening in the other end of lever 82 extends a rod 90, which is arranged for actuation vertically by an eccentric 92 on the shaft 12 by means of an eecentnc strap 94 connected to the upper end of the rod. Adjustably mounted upon the lower end of the rod is a collar 96 which acapted to engage the lever 82 as the rod 90 is raised. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate. the position and arrai'igement of the parts of the machine after the cycle of operations has commenced and just before the cam 22 is rendered operative to trip the fastening driver bar 2%. ln the position shown the rod 90 has been lowered so that the spring 80 is effective to raise the work support into contact with the heel 68. A spring 98 surrounding rod 90 and hearing at one end on a collar 99 clamped to rod 90 and at the other end upon a washer 101 loose upon rod 90 and engaging the end of lever 82 is provided to assist in maintaining the work support in its raised position. During the overtravel of the collar 96, that is, its travel from the time it is disengaged from the lever 82 as rod 90 moves downwardly up to the time when the collar 96 again engages lever 82 with the rod moving upwardly, a fastener is driven into the work which is held under compression by springs 80 and 98. As the rod 90 moves upwardly the collar 96 rocks the lever 82in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thus depressing the knob to release the work.

Provision is made for adjusting the work support for heels of different heights. To this end there is provided a bevel gear 100 keyed to the bushing 7 6 and meshing with a pinion 1.02 secured to a shaft 104. The shaft 10 1 has a bearing in a collar 106 which surrounds the bushing 7 6. Both the collar 1.06 and the knob support 72 are locked against rotation by means of a vertically extending rod 108 which is slidably mounted in bracket 73 and which passes through lugs 110 and 112 projecting, respectively, from the collar 106 and work support 72.

A hand wheel 11% is secured to the shaft 104; for operating the pinion 102. Rotation of the pinion 102 effects rotation of the bushing 76 on the threads 74 of the support 72, and since the bushing is held against longitudinal movement by the spring 80 and lever 82, the work support will be raised or lowered according to the direction of rotation of the pinion. The mechanism just described thus provides a convenientconstruction for rapidly adjusting the height of the work support for different sizes of heels.

In operating the machine, a heel and toplift are positioned in contact with the gages 28 and 50 and with the nozzle 26, in the 1nanner set forth, and the starting treadle is depressed. As the shaft 12 begins to rotate, the eccentric 92 lowers the rod 90, thus permitting the springs 80 and 98 to force the work support upwardly against the heel-seat of the heel thereby supporting the heel and toplift during the driving of a fastening which takes place shortly after the work supportis raised. After the fastening is inserted, further rotation of the shaft 12 causes an operation of the lever 82 to effect a lowering of the work support, thus releasing the work.

It is to be understood that while the invention is herein illustrated in connection with a fastening-inserting machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent, it is not intended to be so limited but is adapted for use in connection with machines of other types.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine of the character described, heel and toplift positioning means comprising a plurality of members constructed and arranged for engaging a toplift and a heel respectively to position the toplift upon the heel with the edges of the toplift extending beyond the edges of the heel, and means for driving a fastening through the toplift into the heel while the toplift and heel are thus positioned.

2. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, and means for locating a toplift and a heel in operative position relatively to said mechanism, said means comprising a pair of V-shaped members constructed and arranged for co-operation with curved back portions of the toplift and of the heel respectively to locate the toplift with its edges extending beyond the edges of the heel.

3. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, gages for simultaneously alining a heel and toplift with the said mechanism, and for so positioning the heel and toplift with respect to each other that the edges of the toplift'extend beyondand are spaced by a predetermined distance from theedges of the heel, and means for adj usting the gages to vary the distance between said edges. v

4-. In a machine of the character described, in combination with fastening-inserting mechanism, a gage for positioning a toplift relatively to said mechanism, a gage for loeating an unattached heel relatively to the toplift, means for adjusting the toplift gage relatively to the fastening-inserting mechanism for positioning toplifts of different sizes, and means for adjusting the heel gage for heels of different sizes or styles.

5. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, a work-positioning device comprising a gage formed and arranged to position a toplift and mounted for adjustment relatively to the fasteninginserting mechanism, a gage adjacent to the toplift positioning gage formed and arranged to position a heel to which the toplift is to be attached by said fasteninginserting mechanism and normally movable with the toplift positioning gage, and means for adjusting the heel positioning gage relatively to the toplift positioning gage.

6. In a machine of the class described, work-positioning members comprising a movable gage formed and arranged. to position a topiift relatively to fastening-inserting mechanism, a second gage mounted for movement with the first-mentioned gage and formed and arranged to position a heel with respect to the toplift, and means for adjusting the heel gage longitudinally of the toplift positioning gage.

7. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, work-positioning gages adjacent to said mechanism, comprising V-shaped members for locating a toplift relatively to the mechanism and for locating a heel relatively to the toplift, means for adjusting the gages as a unit toward or away from the said mechanism, and means for adjusting one of the gages relative to the other gage.

8. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, work-engaging members for positioning a heel and toplift relatively to the fastening-inserting mechanism comprising a toplift gage and a heel gage secured to the toplift gage, the construction and arrangement of the gages being such that the toplift and a heel presented to the fastening mechanism are so positioned that the edges of the toplift overlap the edges of the heel, means for adjusting the gages relatively to the fastening-inserting mechanism, and means for adjusting the gages relatively to each other in order to vary the relation of the edges of the toplift with respect to theedges of the heel.

9. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, a Work-positioning device comprising a plurality of members for contact with the lateralsurfaces of a toplift and a heel to position the toplift and heel relatively to each other, one of said members having its contacting portion pivotally mounted for movement towards the fastening-inserting mechanism.

10. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, means for locating a toplift and an unattached heel relatively to each other in position to receive a fastening driven by said mechanism for securing them together, a worksupport for clamping the tophft and heel in position during a fastenlng-mserting operation, and means for adjusting the work support relatively to the fastening-inserting mechanism in order to facilitate operations upon heels of different heights.

11. In a machine of the character described, fastening-inserting mechanism, a work-positioning device comprising a bushing slidably mounted in the frame of the ma chine, a Work support including a shaft screw-threaded in the bushing so that, the work supportis normally movable with the bushing, a spring tending to force the bushing and Work support toward the fastening inserting mechanism to support the work in operative position thereto, means forretracting the bushing after the termination of an operation upon the work, and means for adjusting the shaft relatively to the bushing.

12. In a machine of the character de scribed, a work-positioning device comprising a Work support, a shaft for carrying the work support extending through a portion of the machine frame, means for preventing rotation. of the shaft, a bushing slidably mounted in the frame and operatively connected to the shaft by means of screw threads, a spring tending to force the bushing upwardly, a gear keyed to the bushing, and a second gear in mesh with the first-mentioned gear for rotating the bushing to effect adjustments of the shaft relatively to the bushing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED L. MACKENZTE. 

